Nolan Ryan Foundation, Round Rock Express Make $50,000 Donation to Local Park

ROUND ROCK, Texas - The Nolan Ryan Foundation and the Round Rock Express have announced a contribution of $50,000 to the Play for All Park expansion located in Round Rock, Texas. The donation is part of a $2.5 million fundraising effort by the Play for All Foundation and the City of Round Rock Parks and Recreation Department to double the four-year-old facility in size.

"We are proud to contribute to the growth of such an important local project," said Ryan Sanders Baseball CEO Reese Ryan. "The Play for All Park opens up a new world to children who otherwise would not get to experience the simple joy of swinging on a swing or the thrill of going down a slide. The Nolan Ryan Foundation and the Express support initiatives that positively impact our youth in the community and we are excited to be involved with this one." 

Representatives from both the foundation and the Express presented the check to the City of Round Rock Parks and Recreation in a ceremony on Wednesday morning at the Play for All Park. Additional donations were contributed by Wag-A-Bag, Nyle Maxwell Family of Dealerships, Chick-Fil-A and Seton Medical Center Williamson.

The donation will directly support efforts to build a train-themed play area in one of the expanded pods. The train theme carries significance because of the nickname Nolan Ryan earned in his 26-year playing career, "The Ryan Express" and the subsequent naming of the minor league franchise. This is the first major local contribution by the foundation since relocating to Round Rock from Alvin, Texas earlier this month.

The all abilities park opened in March 2012 and features 51,000 square feet of outdoor fun for children of all abilities.

For more information on the Express, visit RoundRockExpress.com or call (512) 255-2255. Keep up with the Express on Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat and Twitter!

For more information on the Nolan Ryan Foundation, visit NolanRyanFoundation.org.

About Round Rock Express Baseball
Round Rock Express Baseball Club just completed its 17th season and its sixth as Triple-A affiliate of the Texas Rangers. The franchise was founded by Ryan Sanders Baseball - an ownership group spearheaded by Reid Ryan, son of Baseball Hall of Famer Nolan Ryan and is now led by CEO Reese Ryan. The Express began as the Double-A affiliate of the Houston Astros in 2000 and moved to the Triple-A Pacific Coast League in 2005, remaining an Astros affiliate through the 2010 season. Round Rock has established numerous attendance records at Dell Diamond and has remained in the top five in total attendance in all of Minor League Baseball 16 of the past 17 seasons, winning the PCL attendance crown in 2016. The Express won the 2011 PCL American Southern Division title and the 2015 American Conference championship.

About the Nolan Ryan Foundation
The Nolan Ryan Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization formed in Alvin, TX in 1990. The Foundation provides resources for youth, education and community development. Over its 26 years in Alvin, the Foundation has contributed more than $750,000 to scholarships, baseball field renovations, skills camps and much more. The Nolan Ryan Foundation relocated to Round Rock, TX in November 2016 and looks forward to expanding its services and mission to central Texas.